Ranma 1/2: Video Reminder

By Xasonnex

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is a work created by Rumico Takahashi and is licensed in North America by Viz Media. This is a fan-based work of fiction that is not for profit. Please support the official release.

Chapter 5: A Plan Hatches!

The next morning, the tension at breakfast was obvious. Everyone had heard Akane's outburst the previous night and had steered clear of the Dojo. Ranma looked tired and on edge, constantly looking aside at Akane.

Akane hardly looked up. When she spoke, it was short but cordial, but there was little warmth behind her words.

Genma and Soun nervously ate without prying. If Akane had really learned the truth about P-chan, and she discovered that they had known Ryoga's secret…

Nabiki paid close attention to Ranma and Akane. She was mad that Akane had found out the secret before she could profit from it, and she was mad about the Ryoga situation in general. "I still don't know how I missed all the signs myself," she thought. "I wonder if I'll ever get the story behind why Ranma kept Ryoga's secret?" For what had to be the hundredth time she looked back and forth between the two. "Akane didn't kill him, so it must have been a decent reason…"

Kasumi had noticed the chill in the air and as breakfast was about over, she decided to broach the subject. "Akane," she began, "we heard some commotion last night. Is everything all right?"

Akane almost froze in place for a moment, then slowly placed her utensils down and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. She closed her eyes and took a breath.

Ranma felt a nervously twitching hand reaching for his under the table. He took it and gave it a reassuring squeeze, trying not to let any indication be seen above the table.

Akane opened her eyes. If looks could kill…there would be some people at that table in danger. "Last night, I discovered that Ryoga has a cursed form. He turns into a little black pig."

"Oh my, just like…" Kasumi began, then she grew wide-eyed. "Oh!"

"Yes," Akane replied, "just like P-chan. As it turns out, they are one and the same."

Soun Tendo had the good grace to act shocked. "Ah! How…terrible!"

Akane gave Soun a side-eye as she responded. "That's one way to put it." She gritted her teeth, and everyone could see that she was trying to keep herself in check. A squeeze of her hand helped her speak again. "This jerk," she said as she looked over at Ranma.

"Hey!" Ranma could not help but object.

Akane continued as if uninterrupted. "Takes responsibility for knocking Ryoga into his cursed spring. And claims to have tried to tell me on a few occasions that my pet was a peeping Tom. We still have…"

Ranma gulped audibly and tugged at his collar with his free hand.

"…things to discuss about the keeping of secrets, considering how many times he had a chance to tell me uninterrupted, even if I might not have been receptive to the idea." Akane turned back to the family.

Nabiki could not help but prod, looking at her father and Genma and then back to Akane. "So do you know who else was keeping the secret?"

Genma began to sweat through his bandana as if his wife were there with a sword to his neck. His poker face was decent though. Soun looked stoic but was actually paralyzed with fear.

Akane looked back to Ranma with a steely gaze. "Ranma has convinced me that ignorance may be bliss in this case. And he has tried to talk me out of killing Ryoga the next time he shows up."

Everyone looked at Ranma. For his part, the boy who would have normally put his foot in his mouth wasn't saying much. "I ain't tryin' to defend him, but…"

"Anyway," Akane interrupted. "I'm going to finish getting ready for school." She stood up. "Thank you for the delicious meal." She left to go upstairs.

"I'm going head out now," said Nabiki, who always left before Ranma and Akane. Besides, she had some new information that SOME people might pay to learn.

Ranma looked at Genma, Soun, and Kasumi. "I, uh, need to get some stuff from upstairs. Thanks for the meal, Kasumi!"

School was not a typical day. Ranma had allowed Akane to deal with Kuno alone. Those who witnessed the encounter swore that Akane had set a new distance record for punting. Their friends and classmates all picked up on Akane's barely restrained mood. It wasn't the anger boiling under the surface that scared them, it was the fact that it was STAYING under the surface that did. Something had happened and Akane was not dealing with it like normal. Those paying close attention would notice that even when Akane did act annoyed with Ranma, he managed to not get hit, nor needle Akane further. And so, when lunch came, Ranma and Akane started off eating alone, as everyone else was giving them a wide berth. Until one person didn't.

"Ranchan! Akane!"

Ranma and Akane looked up from under the tree where they were eating. They saw Ukyo making her way over. Akane sighed while Ranma gave a half-hearted wave.

Ukyo sat next to Akane and leaned over. "Hey hon, I just heard from Nabiki about Ryoga."

Akane looked at Ukyo. "Nabiki told you?" Akane started to worry a little. Nabiki had promised to keep the fact that Ranma had kissed her a secret, but Nabiki could be a bit slippery with verbiage. Still, it didn't seem as if Ukyo had learned that little tidbit.

"Yep." Ukyo scowled. "What a rotten thing to do! You've always been so nice to him! And for him to do something so creepy…"

Akane's eye twitched. "So creepy," she echoed.

Ukyo turned to look at Ranma. "And Ranchan! How could you keep that a secret?"

"I got him cursed!" Ranma defended.

"That's no excuse!" Ukyo countered. She turned back to Akane. "Look, I know how it feels for Ranchan to keep a secret from me. Remember how he ruined my special sauce? And kept his mouth shut for 10 years?"

Akane looked over. "Secrets do seem to be a Saotome specialty."

"I didn't even see you for 10 years! How can…" Ranma tried to reply.

"Hush Ranchan! The women are talking!" Ukyo started nodding at Akane. "Oh yeah. I know how that feels. I mean, I've forgiven him for that. It's all water under the bridge."

"Obviously not," Ranma grumbled.

Ukyo continued undeterred. "But this is so much worse! I mean when I think of all the times that I saw you hold P-chan tight to your breasts…"

Akane's grip on her bento tightened.

"…that he snuggled into your cleavage…"

Ranma saw Akane's eye twitch and started making signs for Ukyo to stop talking.

"…And Ranma kept his secret! This is so much worse than when he wrecked my sauce. If I were you, I'd be furious! Heck, if I were you, I'd call off the engagement!"

"There it is!" thought Ranma. "That's her angle!"

Ukyo could tell that Akane was about to break. Surely, she just needed the push, right? "And when you think about all the times you slept with him in your bed, doesn't Ranma's silence just make you want to cast him out of your house? Your life?"

Akane looked over at Ranma. She held her hand out to Ukyo. "May I borrow your spatula?"

Ukyo grinned like a predator. "Sure, hon." Inside she was giddy. She thought, "Ranchan! All you have to do is put up with one little beating and you're all mine!"

Akane gripped the oversized kitchen implement. "Ukyo, if you'd be willing to settle for a secret keeping, insulting, underhanded sex-changer for a fiancé…."

Ranma just braced for impact, resigned to his fate. "Get it out of your system, I deserve it this time…"

"GO FIND YOUR OWN!" With a pivot and a mighty swing, Akane knocked Ukyo so hard that it bent the spatula and sent the chef sailing, doing her best Kuno impression. With a heavy sigh, she dropped the weapon to the ground. Then, so quiet that Ranma could barely hear, "…this one is mine."

When Ukyo regained consciousness after landing a block away, she decided to cut school short that day and open the shop early. Maybe even stay home the next day. Brushing herself off, she muttered, "And this is why I'm the cute fiancée…"

Ranma held his hand as a shield above his eyes as he followed Ukyo's trajectory. "Now that she had coming. Good distance."

Akane slumped back to the ground and buried her eyes in her arms. She heaved a sigh that sounded like she was fighting back a torrent of emotion. Any students that were remotely close decided to put more distance between them and Akane. Except Ranma.

Ranma bent down in front of Akane. "You OK now?" he asked.

Akane didn't respond but breathed a labored sigh.

"OK, OK. Go on," Ranma braced for his own beating. "Get it out of your system. It's eatin' you up."

Akane's silence worried Ranma.

When nothing happened, Ranma turned to leave. "I guess you need some space. I'll just…Ooof!" Ranma fell as he felt a tug at the back of his head.

Akane looked up, one hand holding Ranma by the pigtail. "No running away. You helped dig this hole, help me out of it."

Ranma sat down next to her. "How?"

Akane fought the urge to grab his hand. They were still out in the open after all. "Try starting with what you told me last night. Maybe…elaborate."

Ranma gazed up, trying to remember what he'd told her the previous night to get out of punishment. He remembered what took the most out of Akane's sails and closed his eyes and allowed himself a tight, sincere smile. He sighed contentedly. "I promise, no more secrets. For the first time ever, I have no secrets from you."

Akane risked the public display and leaned into Ranma. "Tell me more."

Ranma slipped an arm behind Akane. "When I first met you, I was in my girl form. We started off with me keeping that secret. I started liking you right there, but as soon as our families pushed us together, I kept that from you. Then the whole thing with Ryoga…" His arm behind Akane turned into a half embrace, the most he could risk in public. Ranma looked left to right, then above, making sure there was no one near to overhear. "But now you know how I feel. How I 've felt for a long time. You know my curse. And I told you last night that Ryoga has a crush on you. That's the only reason he didn't reveal his curse to you."

Akane growled. "That doesn't help him." She looked to Ranma and gave a small smile. "As long as you don't start denying you were jealous of the attention…"

"You realize I'm fighting the habit, right?"

Akane trailed a hand up Ranma's shirt, stopping at the collar where she grabbed in a threatening manner. Her heart really wasn't in it. "Keep fighting that habit. That pig started enough fights between us all while abusing your promise to him." She released her hold and fully turned to face Ranma. She looked him in the eyes. "I'm tired of fighting you."

"Me too, but y'know I'm going to say something wrong soon. The odds ain't in my favor."

"As long as you keep your promise to me, I promise to try to let you correct your own errors before I react."

Ranma smiled. "I promise, no more secrets. You got no idea what a weight has been lifted from my shoulders." He leaned back with his hands behind his head. "And thanks to that tape, you figured Ryoga out yourself and I didn't even go back on my word! Who'd have thought, huh? A couple o' videotapes and suddenly we know we like each other, and I don't have to keep any more secrets to keep anyone from gettin' hurt."

Akane smiled and started getting their lunches put back together. Lunchtime was almost over. She stood up and offered her hand to Ranma to help him up. "Here Ranma, let me…what's wrong?"

Ranma was still sitting with his hands behind his head, but his smile was gone, replaced with a vacant stare.

"Ranma?"

"There it is. Just like that." Ranma spoke softly with a pain evident in his voice. "The weight's back."

Akane squatted down to look him in the eyes. When he didn't look over at her, she gently placed her hand under his chin and turned him to her. Her own feelings suddenly didn't matter to her. She saw a haunted look in his cool, grey eyes. "What is it?"

Ranma's eyes focused on her. He blinked, then sighed. "I'm all done with secrets from you, but I'm still keepin' a whopper from someone else I care about."

Akane thought for a moment, then her eyes went wide with realization. "Your mother."

"Yeah." Something like a chuckle came from his throat. "Too bad Pop doesn't have a tape of me before the curse to show Mom."

The chimes to end lunch pinged. Ranma and Akane started to walk back to class.

Suddenly Ranma stopped in his tracks. "Wait…"

Akane gasped, realizing where Ranma's thoughts were going. "Are you thinking…?"

Ranma grinned. "I think I am."

Akane had been stuck with cleanup duty after school, so Ranma hurried home without her. As she returned to the Tendo household there was a sense of optimism in her chest and an extra spring in her step. Having something to look forward to, something constructive to do, had pushed the Ryoga business from her mind. "I'm home," she declared as she slipped her shoes off. She made her way to the living area, where she found both of her sisters sitting at the table chatting.

Kasumi was the first to look up. "Hello Akane!" she beamed. "How was school?"

"Pretty rough until lunch," Akane replied, sitting down. "But then Ranma and I talked, and I felt a little better." She looked around. "Where are Dad and Mr. Saotome?"

"Hiding," Nabiki replied.

"Now Nabiki," Kasumi chided. "Father and Mr. Saotome simply decided that with Akane's mood this morning that they were going to give her some space." She turned to Akane. "They found a theater with a martial arts movie marathon and left an hour ago. They won't be home until after midnight."

Akane considered this. "As long as those movies don't give Mr. Saotome any new stupid training ideas."

There was a thump-thump-thump sound as someone ran down the stairs and the girls heard the sliding open and close of the door that led to the dojo.

"Speaking of ideas," Nabiki took a sip of water. "Akane, do you have any idea what Ranma is up to? He rented my camcorder for two hours and didn't even ask how much."

Akane slyly looked from side to side. "Well, since Mr. Saotome isn't here, I suppose I can tell you." She looked at Kasumi. "But first, let's bring Kasumi up to speed."

"Up to speed? About what?" Kasumi asked.

Akane gave a brief recount of the previous two nights. Nabiki chimed in with her own observations from what part she had played. Aside from a stern look when Akane and Nabiki mentioned seeing Ryoga's secret exposed, Kasumi could hardly contain her excitement.

"So Ranma realized he loved you because he saw the look on his own face in a video?" Kasumi had her hands clasped in excitement and had the most wholesome grin upon her lips.

"No," Nabiki corrected, as Akane blushed. "He kissed her because he saw how much he wanted to. He realized he loved her because of the kiss." She found herself smiling. "Details matter!"

"Yes, of course." Kasumi turned to Akane. "So, you two are finally being open with each other?"

"When's the wedding?" Nabiki teased.

"Stop!" Akane could hardly turn any redder. "Unless you don't want to know what Ranma is up to now."

Just then, Ranma popped his head in. "Nabiki, how can I tell it's recording?"

Nabiki held up a palm. "One hundred yen."

Ranma rolled his eyes. "Never mind, I'm sure I'll figure it out." He went back out to the dojo.

Akane blinked as she saw his retreating form. "Was he wearing a suit?"

"He was," Nabiki replied. "Now go on, please enlighten us as to why he is wearing a suit. I'll stop teasing."

"Well," Akane began. "The last two nights gave Ranma an idea about what to do with his mother."

"Oh my!" said Kasumi.

"Go on," prodded Nabiki.

"He figured he could show her what he looked and sounded like in male form on video. That way, there was no risk of something triggering his curse. Or maybe even explain the curse in a way that makes it clear that he still considers it a temporary problem."

"That…makes a lot of sense," Nabiki admitted. "Actually, it's a pretty obvious solution when I think about it."

"It's so nice to see Ranma use his head for something other than martial arts," Kasumi agreed.

"Or maybe Akane finally found the right spot on his head to knock some sense into it."

"Anyway," Akane interjected. "If Ranma reveals the secret, he'll actually leave next time Nodoka visits, and I'll show her the tape. If she overreacts, he's safe and I'll tell him when it's safe to come home…I know where he'll be hiding. If it's just him showing what he looks and sounds like, he'll stick around as Ranko, like normal. He hasn't figured out exactly what he's going to do yet." Akane reached both of her hands across the table, each grabbing a sister's hand. "He's tired of keeping secrets. And I want to help him."

Nabiki let out a tiny snort. "You really do love him now."

"I admit I love him now. I've felt it longer." She squeezed Nabiki's hand. "We're not ready for everyone else to know yet. Please help keep this between us."

Kasumi patted the hand that had been extended to her. "I think it's sweet, how this is unfolding. We'll help you every way we can."

"We will?" Nabiki replied to Kasumi.

"Yes. Or at least we'll stop teasing and interfering. Wont we?" Don't let the question mark fool you. Kasumi wasn't asking and Nabiki knew it.

Nabiki looked at Akane and realized it was over. No more teasing or pictures. "We will."

Ranma popped his head back in. "Hey, um…"

Nabiki held out a palm. "Fifty yen. Family discount."

Ranma ignored her. "Akane, could you help me with this? I'm no good at it."

Nabiki blinked. "Did Ranma just admit he wasn't good at something?" she thought.

Akane got up. "I've been waiting. I don't know why you expected to be able to operate that thing your first try."

"What an uncute thing to say!" Ranma replied.

Akane grabbed his jacket by the lapels. "Ranma…"

"Thing to say! Thing to say!" he panicked. "You're not uncute! I didn't call you uncute!"

Akane considered this. She let out an aggravated sigh. "It'll have to do. You were right, you really can't keep from saying something stupid, can you?" They exchanged some more banter before getting out of Kasumi and Nabiki's hearing range.

Nabiki turned to Kasumi. "Think it will work?"

Kasumi looked down, her smile a little smaller. "I hope so. If they've really started admitting their feelings for each other, that contract with his mother is the only real thing left in the way of their happiness."

Nabiki looked surprised. "You don't think Ranma's curse is in the way? Or the other fiancées?"

Kasumi gave a small sigh. "They didn't meet each other until after Ranma got cursed. They've fallen for each other anyway. No, I don't think it's really in the way. As for the other girls…" Kasumi stood up and straightened her apron. "If they really love each other and are willing to admit it when they need to, then I can't see anyone coming between them. Especially if those girls don't get fed…inside information." Kasumi didn't have to say from who.

"OK, OK." Nabiki replied as Kasumi left to start dinner. She looked at her watch and muttered, "He's still got it for another hour and fifteen minutes."

Normally, Nabiki would do her homework in her own room, but since she had promised Kasumi she would help Ranma and Akane, she figured that staying downstairs to save Ranma a few steps in returning her camcorder would suffice as "helping." Thus, she was in a better position to hear every time something went wrong. There was the time Ranma came trudging back in because some kids playing with water balloons outside had thrown one over the Tendo wall, into the dojo, and on Ranma's head. That was the end of the suit. There was another time he had to come in to ask her for the power adapter since the battery had run down (she didn't charge extra and considered it part of the basic rental fee). There were others, but the worst was when she heard a ruckus outside, only for Happosai to blow through the house laughing, being chased by a shirtless Ranma in female form, dripping wet. Akane chased Ranma and managed to bash him to the ground with a mallet. She then dragged a woozy Ranma back to the dojo, with a thermos of hot water in hand. Eventually, Nabiki looked at her watch and started counting down. "30 seconds…25…20…15…10…"

There was the sound of a door opening and the pitter patter of running footsteps. Rama threw the door to the living area open. "Done!" he declared, presenting the camcorder case to Nabiki.

Nabiki blinked. "Three seconds to spare. Cut it close, didn't you Saotome?" She accepted the case.

Ranma pumped his fist in the air. "No extra charges!"

"Now, about the blank tape you recorded on…"

Ranma was crestfallen, not knowing Nabiki was about to let him have it at retail value, without markup. "Damn."

Days passed, then weeks. Ranma, Genma, and Akane did go on that weekend training trip, but nothing of note occurred. Things seemed to get back to normal, for those that didn't pay too close attention to details. Ranma and Akane still argued. Ukyo and Shampoo still pursued Ranma, angering Akane. Happosai schemed and caused trouble. Ryoga failed to make any new appearances. Yes, if one didn't know what to look for, one would think nothing had changed.

But if one looked harder, one would see that while Ranma and Akane still argued, they always fought about the situation and didn't waste effort insulting each other. Sometimes, they even apologized, not that that had never happened before, but it was becoming more common. And when Shampoo would glomp onto Ranma, Akane would just hasten their separation or would continue without blaming Ranma. She'd still be mad, and maybe hurl an insult or two at Shampoo, but Ranma usually came out unscathed.

And as far as anyone knew, nothing was happening romantically between the two. If there was, surely Nabiki Tendo would be selling that information, wouldn't she?

And then the day came. Ranma and Akane were walking home from school when in front of them appeared Genma Saotome carrying two rucksacks. He threw one at his son. "C'mon boy! We're going on a trip!"

Ranma leaped over the rucksack and shoved a foot in his father's face. "What's the big deal, Pop?"

Genma brushed the foot away. "Your mother just showed up at the Tendo's! I barely had time to grab these! Hurry, before she…"

Ranma swiftly picked up a bucket of water conveniently sitting on the side of the road and soaked Genma. "Why should I hurry Pop? I want to see her!"

The panda frantically scribbled on a sign. "Have you lost your mind, boy?!"

"If Ranma wants to see his mother," Akane began. "He's going to see her!" Akane yelled as she punted the pudgy panda towards the horizon. She looked at Ranma. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Ranma closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He reached out a hand and Akane took it. He gave it a squeeze and opened his eyes. He nodded.

Akane risked a quick peck on his cheek. "You've got this."

"Showtime."

Next: "Ranma's Recording! Oops, Revelations Planned and Unplanned!"

Authors notes: I last updated this story May 2, 2006. Over seventeen years between chapters. Well.

Sorry about that, especially to any readers that have this story on alert. I didn't mean to take so long between chapters. Don't worry, the next one will be much quicker, no more than a decade, I promise.

I kid. If you are reading this, if I have posted this, that means I have already written the conclusion. I'm going to revise and stagger releases instead of everything in one dump. I don't have pre-readers, and something might get pointed out in a review I may need to address before I post the next chapter.

This will be the final arc of Video Reminder. This is a gimmick story. While I once thought about making it an alternate continuation, it was not the original intent. It started with me noticing an instance in the anime where a videotape existed. I rewound the episode, saw how much would have been on that tape, and asked myself what Ranma would think if he watched it. The next step was thinking about where another tape would logically exist and what revelation it could hold to disturb the status quo. This final arc is about the creation of a tape for this story exclusively. Three tapes: one that existed, one that should exist, and one that will. So much time has passed between chapters that I worry new readers won't even understand why there would be a tape instead of a digital file, but here we are. I hope this generation that learns about Ranma from streaming services understands how recording on tape works...